Leaders in wellbeing at work want to find ways to remind their team members to move while they work.
But how?
Let’s look at the new kid on the block - the R-Go HE Break Vertical Mouse by Dutch ergonomic innovators R-Go Tools, which offers a fresh solution to this dilemma.
A changing red, orange and green light on the mouse
The R-Go HE Break Vertical Mouse is billed as an ‘intelligent ergonomic mouse with personal break coach’. It features a traffic light system to let you know when it would be good to take a short break because you have been using the mouse continuously.
During mouse usage, the LED light changes colour, like a traffic light:
- Green: you are working healthily
- Orange: it’s time for a break
- Red: you’ve missed a break
That cup of tea isn’t going to make itself. If you tear yourself away from your desk and your constant clicking and scrolling for a short microbreak, your body will have the chance to move and refresh. ‘Move More, Work Better’ is the Posturite mantra. Regular short breaks are good for both your body and mind.
There are no annoying noises, just a little red light on the side of the mouse, to give you a strong visual hint to take a break. Using the R-Go Break software (to which you’ll have access after buying the mouse), you can also alter the timings to suit your needs. If you’d like to keep the standard settings, these are designed to match Dutch health and safety recommendations. They recommend a microbreak of 30 seconds after 10 minutes of computer work, and a break of 3 minutes after 30 minutes of computer work.
The creators at R-Go Tools make the case that:
“Microbreaks prevent overloading of small muscles and tendons and improve your blood flow and concentration. Because breaks are often forgotten when you are focused at work, we’ve developed a break tool that reminds you to interrupt your work on time.”
As featured in The benefits of taking microbreaks infographic, microbreaks can also:
- Increase accuracy
- Boost feelings of positivity
- Disrupt poor postures
The Bluetooth R-Go HE Break Vertical Mouse gives you positive feedback about your break behaviour. And is given the seal of approval by Posturite ergonomists, as well as the AGR ‘Tested and Recommended’ quality seal by the German healthy working organisation Aktion Gesunder Rücken.
Unsure what a vertical mouse is?
A vertical mouse is designed to replicate a natural ‘handshake’ position, which is more natural for your hand, forearm, and wrist. A well-designed vertical computer mouse also provides full support for your hand, helping to relieve pressure on the little finger.
Here’s a video to demonstrate what a vertical mouse is:
The R-Go Tools creators explain that:
“The vertical shape of the R-Go HE mouse ensures that you move the mouse with your arm instead of the wrist. This relieves small muscles and tendons in the wrist and hand and can prevent annoying complaints of the arm, neck and shoulder. This mouse is also intentionally lightweight, so you need less muscle tension to move it.”
An ergonomic mouse for left-handed people
If you’re left-handed, there is an R-Go HE Break Vertical Mouse designed specifically for you.
Another choice you can make to customise your mouse for extra comfort is to match your hand size:
- Small
- Medium
- Large
Who are these R-Go Tools guys in the ergo world?
Fair play to R-Go Tools for finding a brand name that communicates ‘ergonomic’ while still being memorable and different.
R-Go Tools is a Dutch company whose mission is to make healthy working possible for everyone, and whose ergonomic range is exclusive to Posturite for customers in the UK. Excellent laptop stands, mini keyboards and armrests accompany the mouse in this ergonomic collection.
It’s great to see that they are a B-Corp, meaning that R-Go Tools meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
The sustainability of the R-Go HE Break Vertical Mouse
All plastic and aluminium used for the R-Go mice is 100% recycled. The packaging is also eco-friendly and made from recycled cardboard with FSC certified sleeves. This sustainable manufacturing approach means that R-Go Tools has been awarded an EcoVadis Platinum rating, putting them in the Top 1% of businesses for sustainability. “We produce everything with an eye for nature and a heart for people.”
A simple, affordable, feelgood ergonomic tool
Giving the R-Go HE Break Vertical Mouse a go could help you bring a healthier approach to the way you work, with its visual reminders for more frequent and more refreshing short breaks to move.
Just ask Alexa to play ‘I Want To Break Free’ too, and you’ll be good to go.
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